Thanks to Clothesline Laundromat, FoodSmith, and Inver Grove Ford for their support.
The ISD 197 School Board approved a new three-year plan for state funding to address racial and economic inequalities and heard updates about wellness efforts.
New Achievement & Integration Plan
Achievement & Integration is a state program to address racial and economic inequities. The district gets funding but must have a three-year plan with goals and meet certain criteria.
- Money: The funding totals $1.2 million, with a minor $7,000 increase from previous totals. That increase doesn’t keep pace with total cost increases, so the program will see cuts in professional development and middle school integration programming.
- What is it: The money funds multiple projects, including Parent Academy, the AVID program, cultural liaisons, translation and interpretation, magnet school programming, and culturally relevant professional development.
- Input: Multiple groups give input on the plan, including the Equity Advisory Committee and American Indian Parent Advisory Committee.
- Goals: The plan includes three goals with different strategies for each goal.
- Achievement: Increase the percentage of high school students of color with a cumulative GPA of 2.7 from 49% to 52%. Strategies include supports through AVID, support through family partnerships, and professional development.
- Integration: Increase the percentage of sixth through 12th grade students who self-report that “I demonstrate respect toward those with different identities and backgrounds than myself” from 88% to 91%. Strategies include Youth Ambassadors Program and Beyond Our Walls Equity Summit and increasing or maintaining student integration through magnet programs.
- Teacher equity: Increase the percentage of teachers who have completed the district’s Ready for Rigor professional development from 40% to 100%. Strategies include implementing professional development opportunities across the district.
Wellness Committee Update
The Wellness Committee updated the board on multiple projects and initiatives.
- Review: They’re in the midst of a mandatory review conducted at least once every three years to evaluate compliance, progress, and updates.
- Grants: Current grants and partnerships include $10,000 from Dakota County for ADA playground equipment at Pilot Knob and ADA picnic tables for Branch Out, $5,000 for a state food grant that served locally sourced foods at Heritage, $15,000 for bike infrastructure at multiple sites, a state dental program at Heritage, and a partnership with Hy-Vee for a staff vaccine clinic at multiple sites.
- Child nutrition: Schools continue to offer an all-you-can-eat salad bar, plastic-free lunch (still working on making breakfast free of plastic), and vegetarian options. They’re also taste testing multiple new items, including tamales, pupusas, pretzel dog, chalupas, tater tot hotdish, and plant-based chicken patties.
- Wellness projects: Different schools are pursuing multiple wellness projects, including staff challenges, rollerblading, bike- and walk-to-school programs, Girls on the Run, dental programs, American Heart Kids Challenge, mental health presentations at Two Rivers, and more.
- Wellness stipends: There are also various stipends available for staff who oversee these programs, ranging from $50 to $300 for different tasks with a total potential stipend of $900.
- What’s next: In the future, the Wellness Committee is exploring a $20,000 Full Tray grant, evaluating menus for added sugar and sodium to meet new federal guidelines, increasing ADA access and bike access, and looking at vape prevention, dental health, and treat recommendations.
Other Items on the Agenda
- Contract: The board unanimously approved a contract settlement with the classified management unit, which represents about 30 employees in middle management. The new contract has a 1.25% pay increase the first year and a 1.75% increase the second year, as well as health insurance changes, and increases to tax-sheltered annuity contributions and performance incentives.
- Policy: The board gave an initial nod of approval to minor changes to a policy on public data requests. The policy will go on the consent agenda for future meetings.
- Goal cadence: The board voted to shift the timing of their annual goals from the calendar year back to the school year. The board moved to calendar timing a few years ago so newly elected board members taking office in January could develop their own goals. But they found the school year calendar gave a better cadence with reflection in the summer.
Engage
- More: Agendas and minutes for ISD 197 School Board meetings are available online.
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